c.1935 Supertone Archtop Mandolin

This is a downright sweet little (well, bigger than average, actually) mandolin -- nicely suited to bluegrass, old-time, or any genre that requires some cut. 14" scale, super easy action (since my setup), and a great punchy sound. Despite the aesthetics, it actually reminds me of the nicer maple-bodied Gibson-built Kalamazoo A-style mandos. It feels and sounds very much like them and has the same sort of response and clarity.

This one's missing its pickguard but is otherwise entirely original. The finish is good, it's crack-free, and has obviously been well-cared for. The neck joint's in perfect shape and the frets just needed a light dressing.

The folks I bought this mandolin from also included a photo of its previous owner ("Ms. Smith from Manahawkin" who lived there for 88 years, the mando originally being her father's) from the 1940s -- this very mando is sitting atop the piano towards the right of her head.

Good spruce top, solid maple sides, and somewhat birdseyed maple back with sunburst on the top and back and celluloid cream binding top and back. Nice trim.

Tuners are quality-feeling originals with bakelite buttons. Original bone nut.

Rosewood? Possibly? But perhaps a dark-stained fruitwood... fretboard with MOP dots.

Original ebony bridge with bone saddle. I cut the saddle and saddle-slot down slightly but kept the same look.

Tailpiece with slightly-obvious foam string dampener underneath.

Here you can see the nice maple a little bit...

And here's the only sad part -- a little botched old "repair" -- someone reglued the binding but no so nicely in this one section on the back. The "fuzz" below it is actually just some pollen from setting it down on a table. Not in the finish.